Assumption University: A Comprehensive Overview of Undergraduate Programs

Many colleges and universities present a false dichotomy, forcing students to choose between a meaningful life and a rewarding career. Assumption University, however, believes in fostering both. For 120 years, Assumption students have been known for their intellectual curiosity and commitment to community, embodying the Assumptionist and Augustinian Catholic intellectual tradition of charity, a love for learning, the integration of faith and reason, and the pursuit of truth. The university aims not only to teach but also to learn from its students, recognizing the value of their questions and perspectives.

A Vibrant and Diverse Community

Assumption University is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment. The student body comprises individuals from various backgrounds, with 13% of undergraduate students identifying as Hispanic and 6% as Black. This diversity enriches the learning experience and prepares students to engage with a complex and interconnected world.

Located in Worcester, MA, New England’s second-largest city, Assumption University boasts a residential campus with stunning views and state-of-the-art facilities. The campus provides countless opportunities for students to get involved, from academics and athletics to a wide array of clubs and organizations. The sense of community is palpable, with students, faculty, and staff fostering a supportive and collaborative atmosphere.

The Transformative Power of Experiential Learning

Experiential learning is a cornerstone of the Assumption University experience. The curriculum is designed to encourage both scholarly inquiry and real-world application of knowledge. Students can study and explore abroad in over 50 locations, including Vienna, England, South Africa, and the university's own campus in Rome, Italy. This global perspective broadens students' horizons and prepares them to be citizens of the world.

Students are provided an education that shapes their souls, forms them intellectually, and prepares them for meaningful careers.

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Academic Programs: A Foundation for Success

Assumption University offers over 90 diverse academic programs across five schools, providing students with a wide range of options to pursue their passions and develop their talents.

D'Amour College of Liberal Arts & Sciences

Housing more than 50 diverse academic programs and tracks, the D’Amour College of Liberal Arts & Sciences is a place where discovery and leadership thrives. Whether you’re interested in cybersecurity or philosophy, neuroscience or graphic design, or anything in between, explore bachelor’s and dual degree programs.

The college offers a wide array of programs, including:

Art History: Understand and appreciate works of art and their relationship to the societies that produce them.
Biology: Study life and its processes, with opportunities to work with industry-leading biotech companies in Massachusetts.
Biotechnology: Explore the intersection of biology, genetics, and molecular biology, preparing for a career in the growing biotechnology industry.
Chemistry: Study the structure and fundamental principles of matter, gaining an understanding of organic, inorganic, physical, analytical chemistry, and biochemistry.
Communications: Develop strong written and verbal communication skills, essential for success in various fields, including journalism, public relations, and digital media.
Communication Sciences and Disorders: Pursue graduate studies in speech-language pathology or audiology.
Computer Science: Develop programming skills, knowledge of computer hardware and software, and an appreciation for the social and ethical implications of technology.
Core Texts & Enduring Questions Program (CTEQ): Engage with fundamental questions about human existence through the study of classic texts.
Criminology: Gain a broad and deep understanding of crime, its causes, and the criminal justice system.
Cybersecurity: Acquire a technology-based education, using methods in computing and information science, engineering, social science and technology management.
Education: Develop deep content knowledge, diverse pedagogical skills, and hands-on experience in the classroom.
Engineering: Pursue a dual degree through partnership agreements with the University of Notre Dame and Washington University in St. Louis.
English: Address profound and enduring questions about what it means to be human through the study of literature and language.
Environmental Science: Gain a broad foundation in the fundamentals of environmental science, including biology, chemistry, mathematics, and physics.
Graphic Design: Combine artistic talent with technical skills to create visually compelling designs, studying design within the context of a broad-based liberal arts education.
History: Immerse yourself in the political, social, and economic trends and traditions that shaped the past.
Honors Program: Engage in a challenging and rewarding academic experience culminating in a Senior Honors Thesis.
Human Services: Prepare for a fulfilling career helping others by developing strong interpersonal and problem-solving skills.
Italian Studies: Develop advanced proficiency in the Italian language and broaden your knowledge of Italian art, culture, history, literature, and politics.
Latin American and Latino Studies: Increase your familiarity with the dynamics of other societies while strengthening your awareness of cultural diversity.
Law and the Economy: Examine the intersection between the law and economics, and how one informs the other.
Law, Ethics and Constitutional studies (LEX): Appreciate the nation’s constitutional order and its roots in the Western political and philosophical traditions.
Mathematics: Provides a strong foundation for students looking to enter a variety of professional fields and study at the graduate level.
Music: Enhances all areas of a liberal arts education.
Neuroscience: Study the least-understood organ in the human body: the brain.
Philosophy: Develop critical thinking skills and explore fundamental questions about existence, knowledge, and values.
Physics: Develop an understanding of the fundamental laws that govern matter, energy and motion and use them to build a better world.
Political Science: Develop a capacity to address rationally the political issues that are among the most enduring and which have animated communities throughout political history.
Pre-Clinical Health Science: Prepare for graduate study in medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, physician assistant studies, and other health-related professions.
Pre-Law Program: Prepares students interested in law school to meet the many intellectual and ethical challenges of the legal profession.
Psychology: Prepares students for various career paths from community agencies and clinics to public service.
Racial and Ethnic Studies: Understand the underlying social, cultural, and historical circumstances that impact the formation of racial and ethnic categories.
Sociology: Understand the extent to which social structures impact our lives through the study of sociological theory, methods, and data analysis.
Spanish: Is designed to contribute to your cultural and intellectual formation.
Studio Art: Engage in hands-on creative work and acquire a foundation in art history that enables you to understand and appreciate theory and practice.
Theology: Provides valuable and distinctive dimensions to an Assumption education by exposing you to ideas that expand your way of thinking and challenge you to see the world in new ways.

Grenon School of Business

Home to some of Assumption University’s most popular majors, the Grenon School of Business prepares graduates to become the business leaders and innovators of tomorrow. The school provides students more than just the technical skills needed to succeed in business. Through the dynamic interplay of the Foundations Program, the school also enables students to understand and apply diverse ideas and perspectives to navigate the complexity they will encounter in the world.

The Grenon School of Business offers programs in:

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Accounting: Acquire the skills necessary for employment in accounting and the knowledge to sit for the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Certified Management Accountant (CMA) exams.
Finance: Provides you with a better understanding of how economics works as well as the acumen you’ll need to set yourself apart as a job candidate or to further your studies in graduate school.
Forensic Accounting and Fraud Examination: The forensic accounting and fraud examination courses are complemented by instruction in business ethics, cybersecurity, criminology, corporate governance, and data security.
Management: Develop an ability to identify, analyze, and contribute to the development of organizations through an understanding of how they function.
Marketing: Learn to address the fast-paced dynamics of a rapidly changing marketplace with creativity and insight.
Sport Management: Enhanced by a partnership with the Worcester Red Sox, sport management students receive a solid grounding in marketing and management.

A dual degree program is available, allowing students to apply as high school seniors and benefit from a $2,500 Assumption Business Leader Scholarship (per year for 5 years), special programming, and the ability to take up to two MBA courses during their senior year. Two tracks are offered: Management and CPA (for accounting majors only).

School of Health Professions

Led by experienced faculty, the School of Health Professions applies experiential learning and engaging courses to prepare graduates for meaningful careers in the healthcare field.

The school offers programs in:

Nursing: A contemporary nursing curriculum built on a strong foundation of the liberal arts and sciences prepares you to become a leader and provider of high-quality, compassionate, patient-centered care.
Patient Advocacy: The concentration in Patient Advocacy is designed to prepare students with the foundational knowledge for non-clinical graduate study in health care as well as entry-level roles in the field of health advocacy and patient navigation.
Pre-Occupational Therapy: The concentration in pre-occupational therapy prepares you for graduate study in the field.
Pre-Physical Therapy: The concentration in physical therapy prepares you for graduate study in the field.
Rehabilitation Counseling: Rehabilitation counselors empower individuals with disabilities to achieve their life goals by assisting them to identify their strengths, build on their assets, enhance their abilities, and effectively adapt to the environments in which they function.
School Counseling: The School Counseling Program trains students for a career as a counselor where they work with children and adolescents across academic, career, and social-emotional domains.

McKelvey School of Engineering at Washington University in St. Louis

Assumption University students have the opportunity to earn an undergraduate degree from Assumption and one or more degrees from The McKelvey School of Engineering through a Dual Degree Partnership program. Students who choose the 2-year option will spend two years at SEAS to complete a McKelvey School of Engineering undergraduate degree. Admission to the program is not guaranteed.

The Foundations Program: A Cornerstone of the Assumption Experience

The Foundations Program provides students with a Catholic liberal arts education that prepares them for thoughtful and meaningful engagement with their majors and minors, co-curricular activities, careers, and lives more broadly. Enlivened by the Catholic affirmation of the harmony of faith and reason, Foundations immerses students in multiple modes of inquiry as they boldly seek the true, the good, and the beautiful wherever they can be found. By encouraging students to pursue truth in the company of friends, Foundations helps them develop academically, emotionally, personally, and spiritually.

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The Foundations Program is integral to various programs, including Cybersecurity, and helps science students better understand the world and their place in it. It allows students to synthesize ideas from many perspectives (historical, scientific, philosophical, etc.) to critically analyze information.

Graduate Programs and Articulation Agreements

Assumption University offers a range of graduate programs for students looking to advance their education. These programs are led by faculty who are experts in their field.

The university has also developed articulation agreements with other universities, enabling Assumption students to receive undergraduate course credits and/or go on to highly regarded graduate programs. These agreements offer students numerous opportunities for guaranteed admission, accelerated degrees, and intensive study.

Investing in Your Future

Assumption University is committed to helping students navigate the complexities of financing their education. The university provides resources and support to ensure students understand their options, how to apply for aid, and what is expected of them.

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